The Republican journal., 1887-11-10
YELt.OW JACK"
Attracting Attention from Its Presence
in Tampa.

ICIt.OW JACN."
Attracting Attention from Its Presence
in Tampa.
Especial Correspondence.
JACKSONVILLE, Nov. &.-Florila is tho
only state, SO far as known, il which thor.
has been yellow fever this year. 1t made its
appearance in koy West in the latter part OF
May, and disappeared before tho middle of
August 1t was of a very mild type, and the
percentage of the sick who died was very
small. The origin of tho foyer is not in
doubt. 1t is agreed that it was brought from
Havana by Il family of Cubans, who brought
with them some bedding which had been used
by yellow fever patient
The outbreak at Key West, occurring so
carly i'll tho season, alarmed all tho Florida
towns, and excited apprehcnsions of danger
oven in Charleston and Savannah. A vigor-
Gus sanitary movement was at once inaug-
urated, and ill O little while tho health au-
thorities of the different towns announced
that every possible precaution had been taken
against tho fever. Tho only place about
Which much alarm was felt was Tampa The
opinion was frequently expressed that there,
II anywhere, the fever would obtain a lodge
nlcnt on the mainland of Florida. and time
proved its correctness.
Inc announcement of tho appearance of
the fever at Tampa, although the season was
far advanced was followed by exhibitions Of
the widest alarm i'll all the towns of Florida
on tho lines of railroad Quarantine
against the infected city was at once estab-
hshcd, and travel became almost impossible
lie fear which yellow fever excites in places
which have been afflicted with the disease is
something that cannot be explained. The
reports OF the appearance of smallpox,
typhold fever and even diphtheria arc re-
celved almost with Indifference but yellow
fever, although far less fatal than any of tho
diseases mentioned, causes such terror that
everybody who can get away from an infect
cd place does so with delay
The reason yellow fever is so dreaded is
that when it becomes epidemic about every
body is attacked, and il. severe cpidemics
even those who arc regarded as acclimated
DO not escape. Tho very general belief is
That one IS not Liable to q second attack, but
experience proves that this belief is not we'll
founded. There is not Il city in this country,
which has suffered in late years from yellow
fever cp!dcnlcs, where there cannot be found
persons who have had the fcver moro than
once. In New Orleans this is especially true
A great many people died in that city from
the fever during the great epidemic Of 1878
who had certificates of physicians of cstab-
lished reputation showing that they had suf-
fcred from the yellow fever in previous cpl
Denies
The captain of one of the finest steamers
running between New " rk and South At
lantic port has, perhaps, had the yellow fever
more times than any other living man Ho
is Il little past SO years Of ago, and is in tho
enjoyment of robust health. He does not a;,-
pear to be more than 40, and it is doubtful if
he feels as if he We're beyond that age.
His experience with yellow foyer is such n
remarkable one that it would be worth tho
while of those interested in the study of that
disease to give it more than o. passing no.
ticc. Tho first time lie was attacked he was
on the west coast Of Africa in 1S40 Ha was
then only well grown lad and was noted
for his; uniformly good health. He was sick
thrcc months and was not expected to re-
cover. The length of his illness was due to
relapse and the excessive weakness which
followed it, His second attack was in CAL
cutta, but it was q light one. There was no
doubt, however, about the character Of his
sickness. His third attack was at New Or
leans during tho terrible epidemic of 1868,
when people died SO fast that it was impossi-
bio to bury them decently Indeed, there
Woo not enough we'll people to Pre-
Pc TIC bodies for burial, and they were
ti:o.::i into trenches as they were taken
from their beds, and covered without funeral
ceremonies of any kind. Tho captain, whose
experience is hero related, was not expected
to recover, but his iron constitution stood
tho strain, and after forty days he was able
to attend to his duties Oh shipboard again
His fourth attack was at Rio Janeiro. in 1855,
and it was a bad ono. The Masons of that
city, however, nursed him through it, and
after months illness he was able to be about
again. In 1860, in tho same city, he was
again stricken down with tho dreaded dis
ease, and tho attack was SO severe that but
little hopo was entertained of his recovery
The physician who attended him expressed
tho opinion that if he recovered he would
enjoy exceptionally good health, or, as he
put it, he would DC q "ncw man." This
opinion proved to be erect, as tho captain
seldom suffers from sickness of any kind
Ono of the reasons why yellow fever OK
cites SO much alarm is that physicians do not
know anything about it. They arc all the
time experimenting. Tho treatment is diff
fercnt in almost every epidemic. New Or
leans is thought to have tho best yellow fever
doctors in this country, and yet their treat
ment Of the disease is radically different from
what it was twenty years ago. Before tho
war patient was dosed with calomel and
castor oil He was given q mustard foot
bath and wrapped in blankets. Tho windows
and doors were kept closed, as it was thought
there was moro danger of catching cold from
fresh air than benefit to be derived from it.
Now tho treatment does not include tho Gallo
mel and oil, tho blankets, nor tho closed
room. Every effort is mado to increase the
patients comfort, and he is strengthened il,
every way for tho purpose of offering til.
greatest possible resistance to the disease